Straight Axle Conversion Kit ??
#11
TECH Apprentice
Originally Posted by PORN_1
I want to do a solid axle conversion in my truck too, with a 4 link and sitting on air bags, but offroad unlimited is way over priced. I also can't find a 4 link and all the steer components, does anybody no where I can find thoughs.
#12
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Join Date: Sep 2004
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The only "kit" currently sold for the NBS half tons is the fabritech kit. It runs $1700ish for brackets and some steering. Thats freakign expensive. For the HDs ORU makes a kit for 950 for brackets, also freaking expensive.
About the kits. The fabritech kit puts the shackle at the front of the leafs springs, this is undesirable. They do this so you can run gm 45" springs (what the old 70-80s trucks used up front and are commonly available) I looked into this kit and decided it wasnt worth 1700 for a design that isnt desirable.
The ORU kit is nice if you have an HD, but once again uses 45" springs. The shackle IS at the back though.
Now I made my own brackets and learned the hard way on a NBS half ton to put the shackle at the back, you end up with your axle a few inches further back than I would like when using 45" springs. I fixed it using a custom machined zero rate spring to move the axle forward.
I am in fact working on a kit to do this, it would be the only one like it on the market. It would be a bolt on kit for the NBS half ton trucks. It will utilize the gm 52" rear springs, this will place the axle in perfect position, and give you a better, flexier spring (also ride better). The front kit will be a solid piece that has a new integrated crossmember, and the rear hangers will bolt into a boxed portion of the frame. Im working on making the first kit now on a local truck who Im doing the conversion for.
Anyways, this is a very expensive ordeal. I spent close to 10k alone in part. A completely rebuilt ford high pinion dana 60 will cost you over 2k even if you do all the labor. I build them for people all the time, trust me. You can go look over at www.gmfullsize.com in the tech area and find my SFA tech article, its not complete but will give you a good idea of what you would be undertaking. To be honest, unless you wheel the **** out of yoru truck, dont bother.
About the kits. The fabritech kit puts the shackle at the front of the leafs springs, this is undesirable. They do this so you can run gm 45" springs (what the old 70-80s trucks used up front and are commonly available) I looked into this kit and decided it wasnt worth 1700 for a design that isnt desirable.
The ORU kit is nice if you have an HD, but once again uses 45" springs. The shackle IS at the back though.
Now I made my own brackets and learned the hard way on a NBS half ton to put the shackle at the back, you end up with your axle a few inches further back than I would like when using 45" springs. I fixed it using a custom machined zero rate spring to move the axle forward.
I am in fact working on a kit to do this, it would be the only one like it on the market. It would be a bolt on kit for the NBS half ton trucks. It will utilize the gm 52" rear springs, this will place the axle in perfect position, and give you a better, flexier spring (also ride better). The front kit will be a solid piece that has a new integrated crossmember, and the rear hangers will bolt into a boxed portion of the frame. Im working on making the first kit now on a local truck who Im doing the conversion for.
Anyways, this is a very expensive ordeal. I spent close to 10k alone in part. A completely rebuilt ford high pinion dana 60 will cost you over 2k even if you do all the labor. I build them for people all the time, trust me. You can go look over at www.gmfullsize.com in the tech area and find my SFA tech article, its not complete but will give you a good idea of what you would be undertaking. To be honest, unless you wheel the **** out of yoru truck, dont bother.
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05, 1999, axel, axl, axle, chevy, conversion, cunversion, fabritech, kit, oru, silverado, silveraldo, staright, straight